Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Bill Byham Memories - Press Section at Little League Volunteer Stadium to Be Named for Bill Byham

(L) Ken Sawyer and Bill Byham (A WOL.news file photo)

Bill Byham passed away on May 30, 2017WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (June 14, 2002) – The first time Bill Byham worked in the broadcast booth of the Little League Baseball World Series, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the United States, and the site of the World Series was changed for the first time, from Original Field to the borough of South Williamsport.

Since then, nine U.S. presidents have served in the White House. But the site of the Little League Baseball World Series remains the same as when Bill Byham called his first game, between Schenectady (N.Y.) National Little League and Valleyfield Little League of Quebec, Canada, on August 25, 1959.

“Many things have changed in our world and in the Little League Baseball World Series since 1959,” Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League Baseball, said. “One thing you can count on is Bill Byham in the press box. But he has been much more than a broadcaster to us.”

During Mr. Byham’s 44th Little League Baseball World Series, the press section at Little League Volunteer Stadium will be named in his honor. A plaque also will be placed outside the stadium, identifying the press section. Volunteer Stadium is one of two stadiums in which the annual Little League Baseball World Series is played. The series is set for Aug. 16-25 this year.

Mr. Byham worked for 20 years as a coach in the Little League Summer Camp, and served many more years as a volunteer. He also served at the local league level, coaching in the Little Mountaineer Little League in South Williamsport. Managers from the region still call upon Mr. Byham to help train pitchers. Mr. Byham was honored with the W. Howard Hartman Little League Friendship Award in 1993.

A former minor league pitcher in the New York Giants system, Mr. Byham taught and coached at South Williamsport Area High School, and was sports information director at Lycoming College for several years.

The press section at Howard J. Lamade Stadium was named in 1987 for Ray Keyes, the late sports editor of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Mr. Keyes covered every Little League Baseball World Series from 1947 until his death in 1988. A plaque honoring Mr. Keyes also will be placed outside Lamade Stadium.

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